Average earnings in Donegal are over €13,000 less than the national average, new CSO data shows.
The mean annual earnings of a worker in Donegal is €40,803 – the lowest in the country, while the national average is now €53,995.
CSO figures show that Donegal also has the lowest median earnings at €35,010, which is well below the national median of €43,221.
Nationally, Dublin had the highest median annual earnings (€47,873) and the highest mean earnings (€63,048).
The CSO report broke down earnings by age and gender, and found that the median annual earnings were lowest among the 15-24 age group for both men (€23,658) and women (€20,382).
It found that gender representation across the total workforce is relatively equal – but that males accounted for 61.5% of those with earnings in the top 25%.
Among employments with earnings in the top 1%, males represented 73.6%, while the corresponding figure for females was 26.4%
Financial expert James Dorrian of the National Pension Helpline explained that yet again, Dublin reported the highest median annual earnings at €47,873, followed by Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, and Cork.
“These five counties all surpassed the national median earnings of €43,221,” he said.
“Another interesting finding is that over half of the top 1% earners lived in Dublin, while the Border and Midlands regions accounted for only 2% of these top earners.”
“The lowest median annual earnings were seen in Donegal (€35,010), Monaghan (€35,894), and Kerry (€37,151).”
